William Peck (& W. B. Peck)

Wine & Spirit Merchants, 33 and 53 Broad Street, Bristol.
The sign of the "Wine Pipe"

Note, the above addresses also at various times contained solicitors' and other offices.


There is a Lease, in the Bath and North East Somerset Archives ref: BC/6/2/3/2176, of the fore part of a tenement, third part of a garden and the use of a brewhouse in Broad Street (this could be Bath) on 3 Jan 1759 to a Robert Peck.

Late adverts claim the Peck's wine and spirit business was established in 1788.

William Peck was born around 1774, he married Ann Bishop on 30 May 1805 at St. John, Bedminster. William was the son of William Peck and Betty Dyer, who married in East Budleigh, Devon, on 2 January 1772*. William Jr. was a Wine Cooper of Bedminster at the time of his marriage to Ann, and by 1810 he was a Churchwarden of St. John the Baptist, Broad Street, it is suggested by his adverts that he commenced business in Broad Street in 1805. There is a Betty Peck, buried at St. John's on 16 Dec. 1828 age 78. This was is William's mother who died on 9 December. William and Ann had at least 7 children, all baptised at St. John the Baptist's: Betsy Dyer Peck, 13 Sept.1807; William Bishop Peck and  Richard Dyer Peck both on 9 June 1811, William Bishop Peck being born 10 May 1809; Ann Peck, 10 March 1813 (bur. 18 Jan. 1816); Edward Peck, 18 Jan. 1816 (bur. 3 Aug. 1817); Edward Ellis Peck, 18 Jan. 1818 (died 26 May 1859 at Longwood, Long Ashton); and Elias John Peck, 28 Nov. 1819 (bur. 8 Dec. 1820); Elias (died 19 July 1827 age 5 yrs 10 Months). Betsy married William Halse, surgeon, at Christchurch, Bristol, in July 1829.

William was a liquor merchant in Broad Street by at least 1811. The business relocated in 1827, from the Bristol Mercury - Monday 01 October 1827, page3: "W. PECK, Wine and Spirit Merchant, returns his most grateful thanks and acknowledgments to those Friends who have so kindly honoured him with their patronage, and informs them and the Public generally, that he intends Removing-from No. 33 to 53, BROAD-STREET, where he respectfully solicits a continuance of those favours so liberally bestowed on him. N. B. The HOUSE, No. 33, to be Let, either for Offices or Business. (One Concern)." William Peck died after a short illness on 5 Dec. 1837, age 63.

Advertisement from J. Wright & Co.'s Matthews Bristol Directory 1880.
Peck3.jpg

William Bishop Peck carried on the business in Broad Street after the death of his father. He married Anne, daughter of Ambrose Emerson, at Batheaston, on 6 March 1839. William and Anne had son William Emmerson Peck, bapt 20 Feb. 1840 at St. John the Baptist. Anne unfortunately died at 53 Broad Street on 2 Jan. 1848. William re-married on 28 March 1857, to Elizabeth Hicks Withers, at St. Mary-le-bone, London. Children by Elizabeth were: Francis Samuel Peck, bapt. 21 July 1858 at St. Augustine the Less; Herbert Withers Peck, bapt. 2 Sept. 1859 at the same;  Mary Emmelina Peck, born 1861, Clifton; Lionel Surman Peck, born 1862 (d. 1863), Clifton; Alice Margaret Peck, born 1864, Clifton; Edward Surman Peck, born 1866, Clifton; Arthur Wharton Peck, born 1869, Clifton, bapt. St. Mary, Willesden, 11 July 1869.

From the first page of  Bristol Times and Mirror - Saturday 27 February 1869: "VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY—WILLIAM B. PECK. Wine Merchant, Broad-street. Bristol, is open to Treat for the DISPOSAL of his Old-established BUSINESS and PREMISES, connected with which are ample Sites, covering 94ft. by 39ft., also 78ft. by 22ft. on which could be placed large Public Rooms, Offices, &c., having area of nearly 6,000 square feet; with very extensive Cellars and Frontages. Situation the most central and one of the best In the city." William, under the duress of failing health, continued to advertise his business for the next couple of years, at the same time advertising for competent staff. He suffered a tragedy in March 1869 when his young assistant Arthur Moorhouse, aged only 23, who had been suffering heart palpitations, died after consuming a large quantity of spirits, and ordering a hot bath at Victoria Baths, Clifton. He was found dead in the bath.

From the  Bristol Mercury - Thursday 20 March 1879, page 3: "We are sorry to hear of the death, at a late hour on Tueiday evening, of Mr. W. B. Peck, wine merchant, Broad-street, which sad event occurred at private residence. Moreland-house, Whiteladies’-road. Mr. Peck, who succeeded his father in the important business with which he was connected, never enjoyed robust health, and for some time past he had been ailing considerably. He was man of sound judgment and cultivated tastes and was not more highly respected as a merchant than he was valued in the private relations life."

On Wednesday 14 May 1879, the license of the "Wine Pipe" was transferred from William Bishop Peck (deceased) to his widow Elizabeth Hicks Peck. The final order license of the "Wine Pipe" was granted to Elizabeth on Tues. 18 June 1901. Elizabeth died at Porlock on 28 May 1909, aged 82. The license was transferred on Monday 9 August 1909 to James Chanter Blackmore who was a beneficiary of Elizabeth's will and had been managing the business since at least 1894. On 20 June 1900 James took the license of the White Swan at 52 Broad Street from Henry Boulton. James Chanter Blackmore died 17 Sept. 1922 in Clifton.

From the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 13 February 1935 page 6: "To the Clerk of the Licensing Justices of the City and County of Bristol; to the Clerk of the Rating Authority of the said City and County; and to the Superintendent of Police of the said City and County, and to ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I, ARTHUR JOHN MAYO, now residing at 40, Linden Road, Westbury Park, in the said City and County, a Director of Messrs W. B. Peck and Co., Ltd., do hereby GIVE NOTICE that it is my intention to apply at the adjourned General Annual Licensing Meeting for the said City and County, to be holden Bridewell Street on Monday, the 4th day of March next, for order sanctioning the provisional removal of a Justices' Licence authorising me to hold an Excise Licence to sell by retail any intoxicating liquors which may be sold under Publican's Licence for consumption, either or off the premises, situate at Broad Street, in the said City and County, and known, or formerly known, by the sign of the Wine Pipe, and formerly owned by Elizabeth Hicks Peck and others, but now by Messrs W. B. Peck and Co., Ltd., from such premises to premises he erected at Newmarket Avenue, Broad Street aforesaid, and of which premises Messrs W. B. Peck and Co., Ltd., are the owners. Given under my hand this 8th day of February, 1935.  A. J. MAYO."

Arthur John Mayo was with W. B. Peck & Co. for over 40 years, and was Managing Director when he retired. He died 13 October 1940 aged 74.

From the Western Daily Press - Tuesday 5 March 1935, page 6: "BRISTOL LICENSING APPLICATION. Bristol Licensing Justices granted an application yesterday on behalf of W. B. Peck and Co., Ltd., wine and spirit merchants, Broad Street, for the "removal" of their licence. Mr W. S. Scammell said Pecks had sold a part of their premises which fronted Broad Street. The portion which ran along Newmarket Avenue was licensed except for a section, now void, which was formerly used as offices for a non-licensed business. "In effect Pecks in adopting a forward policy,'' said Mr Scammell, want to take one step backwards from Broad Street."

On Mon.12 Aug. 1835, final license transfer before removal, from Arthur John Mayo to Stanley William Wood took place.

From the same paper,  Friday 6 December 1935, page 5:  "FUTURE OF W. B. PECK & CO. LTD. At an extraordinary meeting the shareholders of W B Peck and Co., Ltd., Bristol, a resolution was passed that the company should be voluntarily be wound up in consequence of the transfer of old established business to Messrs Innes, Smith and Co. We are asked to say that the winding up the old company will not in any way affect the conduct of the. business, which will carried on as before at the new and commodious premises Newmarket Avenue, Broad Street, Bristol."

*Devon Family History Soc. CD "The Deanery of Aylesbeare".

Approx 1 gallon saltglaze flagon (fragment). Peck4.jpg
Impressed:  W. Peck



Potter:  unknown.
Fragment excavated in Bath.

Half gallon saltglaze flagon. Peck1.jpg
Impressed:  W. Peck / Broad St. / Bristol



Potter:  Yabbicom, Bristol.
Image courtesy Paul De'Ath.

Small flat sided saltglaze flagon. Peck2.jpg
Impressed:  W. B. PECK / BROAD STREET/ BRISTOL



Potter:  Yabbicom, Bristol.
Image courtesy Paul De'Ath.

3 Gallon Stoneware Flagon Peck5.jpgPeck6.jpg
Impressed:  3 / W B Peck / Broad Street / Bristol

Potter: Price & Sons / Stone Ware / Bristol (diamond mark)

2 Gallon Stoneware Flagon Peck7.jpg
Printed:  W. B. PECK & CO. / BROAD STREET / BRISTOL



Potter:  unmarked.

 Half Gallon Stoneware Flagon Peck8.jpg
Impressed:  W B PECK & Co. / Broad St / BRISTOL





Potter:  Price / T / Bristol.


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